Precision Micrometer die sets - your recommendations

[Scott E Ames]

The Hornady New Dimension Match dies ($89) are working well for me. The finish is not as nice as the Redding competition dies but I ordered these to try and they are consistent and produce very accurate ammunition. You need the $15 143/147 grain seater plug also. Midway says there is a rebate on the dies. All made by Hornady so I bet this will seat their bullets and would take care of your problem for a reasonable expense.

 

[nksmfamjp]

IMO, you cannot buy a better set of dies than Forster standard benchrest dies setup for your rifle.

some will complain about the expanding ball, but it is the right size.

the die body does slightly over size the necks, but this can be tuned be having them custom honed.

the std seater is the same seater as the micrometer, but without the micrometer. I will tell you that both can be setup to the same level of accuracy and concetricity. Sure the micrometer is quicker, but not by much.

if the seater leave a mark, order a custom honed stem.

 

[Scott E Ames]

The reason I ended up with the Hornady dies is the Forster dies were on intergalactic backorder with no delivery date in site. The Hornady dies are not as precise as the Redding competition or Forster. ie. the micrometer settings are more of a reference number rather than an exact change in depth like the Redding/Forster setups but you are also paying less than half and once they are set up they produce good quality ammo. They certainly size you brass and bump the shoulders well and the seating die does a great job once you know the micrometer settings are only relatively close.

 

[antelopedundee]

compressed powder loads will cause this .

Redding cautions against using their competition seater dies with compressed loads or any load situation which requires greater effort to seat the bullet.

 

[JoeMan04]

Personal preference, Redding (customer service is great in my experience) and Forster (easy for a simpleton like myself to zero out). Lee makes a pretty good set as well for the money. Just my two-cents.

 

[antelopedundee]

I know he's not talking about me I just barely survive on Social Security

Then spending $170 on a seating die is probably not something that you'd do without giving it a second thought.

 

[338 dude]

Then spending $170 on a seating die is probably not something that you'd do without giving it a second thought.

By once cry once I don't remember what my Redding dies cost for my 65 284 but they were around $200 for the set but I remember my Redding dies for the 338 very well because it hurt they were a little over $400 for the set same die just larger caliber doesn't make much sense to me

 

[338 dude]

Like most people starting out I went cheap with a lot of stuff and upgraded later I don't have a single thing I started out with so it ends up costing more in the end like I said earlier buy once cry once and MoveOn

 

[antelopedundee]

I am fairly new to reloading and I am currently trying to find that "best" recipe for Hornady's 143 ELD-X for my Savage 6.5 CM. I have learned that the "standard" out of the box stem in the bullet crimping die is no good for the ELD-X round. The bullet bottoms out in the stem causing the plastic/nylon tip to crush and become deformed. So with a little help, I found the appropriate die stem that stops on the Ogive. Yet I am still having issues getting my rounds loaded to a consistent COAL using the standard Hornady die along with the new stem. It could be my measuring - but I think it is ultimately the plastic tip and how it compresses under the micrometer when measured - even so slightly. Do any of you employ a precision bullet seating die - and if so, what particular die, model, etc. - and why? I have seen online a few manufacturers of the precision dies with micrometer settings - but I do not want to throw more money down the tube unnecessarily. If a precision die would do the trick, I am ready to spend the money for the right alternative. Your suggestions and your own research would be greatly appreciated.

I assume that by appropriate die stem that you discovered to use a VLD stem. It sounds like Hornady may be making bullets on more than one press and not keeping bullets from each lot as separate lots, but rather mixing them together. I heard an old story where Sierra hired Walt Berger as a consultant to improve their bullet making processes. When he suggested that they keep separate lots for separate machines making the same bullet they showed him the door. If you can see more than one type of bullet in a box, you might call Hornady about it.

 

[JoeMan04]

Still have some original stuff, I'm a hoarder...

 

[L.Sherm]

I have spent 30 years accumulating what I have today and somethings I have learned the hard way to buy quality the first time, Brass is the one that jumps out at me the most.

 

[JoeMan04]

Would also encourage looking at the Classifieds regularly. A lot of good reloading items, amongst other things, from reputable folks who will do you right.

 

[antelopedundee]

To the OP. Sinclair used to offer a bullet comparator which is basically a large hex nut with hole in each side. Put your bullet into the proper sized hole nose first and measure the length from the bullet base to the opposite side face. This will tell you if you have bullets with varying ogive shapes. I have one somewhere so if you PM me your address and I can find it, it's yours.

 

[Mrvmax]

Redding competition dies

Same here, I prefer Redding